Kauri Forests

I visited two more Kauri Forests today. The biggest is Waipoua Forest. It covers a fairly large area and contains several of the largest Kauri trees still existing. The largest is called Tane Mahuta which means ‘Lord of the Forest’ (not to be confused with the ’Lord of the Rings’. The trunk of the tree is over 30 feet in diameter. It dwarfs the surrounding trees. While I’m on the subject of Dwarfs, I still haven’t seen any.

The second largest is called Te Matua Ngahere. The only thing confusing about that one is the pronunciation. Both of these old guys are over 2000. There is also a cluster of four trees called ‘The Four Sisters’ that have merged together at the base. I don’t now why these are given a female name and the other two are guys. Maybe it has something to do with not knowing the ages of the four sisters.

Of course the forests are also full of the ubiquitous ferns of various sizes and shapes that fill the lower levels of the forests here. I didn’t see any Wood Elves in either forest. Sure looked like perfect habitat to me.


Glad they don’t have any snakes in New Zealand. This would have been a perfect place for them.


There are Ferns galore on the forest floor.


This is Tane Mahuta, the ‘Lord of the Forest’. The diameter of the trunk is over 30 feet!


This is a view of Tane Manuta through the forest. It dwarfs the surrounding trees.


A creepy creeper.


The Ferns have beautiful detail.


Every dead log has a whole ecosystem growing out of it.


The Four Sisters. This would make a wicked tree house! You could run an elevator up the middle.


The Tree Ferns are my favorites. They grow as tall as palm trees.


The Tree Ferns make the place look Jurassic.


Oh no! Another Fern.


More of the big Kauris in Trounson Kauri Park.